Apollo has launched a new premium summer tire, the Vredestein Ultrac+. The new tire promises to deliver improvements in longevity compared to the outgoing Ultrac while maintaining its predecessor’s comfort and highly competitive wet and dry handling capabilities.
The tire will be available from January 2025 in 70 different sizes, from 15in to 20in, making it suited for a very wide selection of family and compact cars.
The longevity of the tire has been improved by its “square” footprint and the use of a new tread compound. The company’s internal testing reports that the mileage of the Ultrac+ has been improved by up to 30% compared to the Ultrac and abrasion loss reduced by up to 30%. The tire maker adds that rolling resistance has been cut by 3%, which helps to maximize driving range and reduce whole-life cost.
Two independent testing companies have separately conducted evaluations of the new Ultrac+ (in 225/45 R17 94Y XL size). IFV assessed the tire’s longevity, and Applus Idiada evaluated the performance of the tire in the wet and dry, as well as its comfort. Both testing organizations benchmarked the Ultrac+ against leading premium-brand rivals.
The reduced apex height and enlarged ‘flex zone’ in the sidewall of the Ultrac+ play a vital role in offering a quiet and comfortable ride, the tire maker said. The optimized pitch sequence from the Ultrac has been retained in the Ultrac+ and further refined for different tire diameters. Applus Idiada found that the Ultrac+ retains the Ultrac’s leading comfort, aided by its low noise levels and smooth ride quality.
Developed by the Apollo Tyres Global R&D Centre Europe in Enschede in the Netherlands, the Ultrac+ features a center rib with parabolic lateral grooves, which enhance steering response and precision for a “safe and dynamic driving experience”. For balanced dry and wet handling, the tire benefits from next-generation tread compound technology, including a high level of silica, a traction-enhancing resin and a multi-functional polymer.
Yves Pouliquen, vice president, commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “Our product development process is guided by detailed analysis of customer feedback, as well as by evaluation of market-leading rival products. We found that the Ultrac was highly competitive across all key criteria apart from longevity, so that became a core focus for the team charged with designing and testing the new Ultrac+.”
